Lib Dem Claim: Lib Dem Leader believes we have ‘no plan’ for Stockport
With the regrettable news that the Cooperative bank are planning to leave Stockport’s pyramid building (‘Towns Iconic Landmark put up for Sale’, 06/06/18), Cllr Mark Hunter couldn’t resist the opportunity to score political points – claiming the ‘current [Labour] administration doesn’t have a response or plan’ (on the Town Centre) and ‘just let things happen’.
Reality: Leader of Opposition, Member of Town Centre Taskforce Committee and GMCA Economy Scrutiny Member not paying attention.
Cllr Hunter is either being disingenuous or simply isn’t paying attention over our ambitious Stockport centre plans something already covered here.
Cllr Hunter is privileged to sit on the Town Centre Taskforce Committee, which receives regular detailed reports and discusses in depth the plans for Stockport Town Centre. As Liberal Democrat leader, he also regularly meets with the Council Leader and Chief Executive to discuss upcoming plans.
As such he should have received advance notice and briefings upon our plans for the Merseyway, Town Centre Living and Town Centre West redevelopment Strategies, Stockport Exchange next phases, and the upcoming state-of-the-art new transport Interchange .
Under Labour, we are developing transformational plans for the Market Place, and building on the success of Redrock and Stockport Exchange. We have developed ambitious Town Centre Living and Town Centre West regeneration strategies. We have secured Heritage Lottery funding to rejuvenate the Underbanks on top of £7million already being invested in the Market Place and Underbanks area. We have recently held two high-level developer conferences – one of which Cllr Hunter attended – to encourage investment into the town. We have won over £8million in government funding to help towards building homes. We were the first in GM to seize upon the Andy Burnham’s Town Centre Challenge and are working constructively with the Mayor’s office on how we can use his mayoral powers to leverage much needed regeneration. ALL of which Cllr Hunter should be fully aware.
Not paying attention
If Cllr Hunter prefers not to pay attention in meetings or read council papers, he could perhaps check the very same edition of the Stockport Express – for an article on how we’ve found a new use for the town centre’s old sorting office on the A6. After being left empty since 2010 under the Lib Dems, this building is now springing back to life under Labour.
As with the Tatton Cinema this symbolises the difference between previous administrations and this one: a couple of decades of dereliction under the Lib Dems; a couple of years under Labour, things getting things done.
… and for the Cllr Hunter’s benefit– here is our Local Plan for Stockport.